Variable transmission rate services in a radio access network

Abstract

A connection is supported in a radio access network (RAN) between an external network to a UE using a first RAN node and second RAN node. The transmission rate from the first RAN node to the second RAN node is regulated based on a rate control request from the second RAN node. In one example embodiment, the first and second RAN nodes correspond to a serving radio network controller and a drift radio network controller, respectively. In another example embodiment, the first and second RAN nodes correspond to a radio network controller and radio base station, respectively. The rate control request is made based upon a congestion or load condition being monitored by the second RAN node. When the load condition is detected, the second RAN node requests the first RAN node to lower the transmission rate of information. Conversely, when the load condition is relieved, the second RAN node can request that the first RAN node increase the transmission rate of information. The rate control may be applied in both downlink and uplink directions.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to telecommunications, and particularly, to handling variable transmission rate services in a radio access network.BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY[0002]In a typical cellular radio system, “wireless” user equipment units (UEs) and one or more “core” networks (like the public telephone network or Internet) communicate via a radio access network (RAN). The UEs very often are mobile, e.g., cellular telephones and laptops with mobile radio communication capabilities (mobile terminals). UEs and the core networks communicate both voice and data information via the radio access network.[0003]The radio access network services a geographical area which is divided into cell areas, with each cell area being served by a base station (BS). Thus, a base station can serve one or multiple cells. A cell is a geographical area where radio coverage is provided by the radio base station equipment at a base station site. Each cell is identified by a unique...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015]As a result, there are inefficiencies in allocating dedicated channel resources over the Iur interface. Because the drift RNC must reserve resources for the maximum possible rate of the dedicated channel, some of the reserved radio bandwidt

Problems solved by technology

However, the drift RNC does not give the serving RNC any guarantees on the transmission rate/throughput for a connection mapped to a common transport channel.

As a result, there are inefficiencies in allocating dedicated channel resources over the Iur interface.

Precious

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